Oj Recipe

Prepare oranges

Roll each orange on the countertop firmly with the palm of your hand for 20–30 seconds to break up the pulp and make juicing easier.

Halve the oranges crosswise. If you have a citrus reamer or juicer, use it to juice each half into a bowl or measuring cup. If using a blender, peel the oranges (remove as much white pith as possible to reduce bitterness), chop into pieces and place in the blender.

If using a juicer or reamer

Collect the juice, then strain through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher to remove seeds and excess pulp if you prefer smoother juice. Measure the yield—6 large oranges will give about 2 to 2 1/2 cups of juice.

If using a blender

Blend the peeled orange pieces with 1/4 cup cold water on high for 20–30 seconds until smooth. Strain the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a pitcher, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible.

Taste the juice. If it tastes tart and you prefer sweeter juice, stir in granulated sugar a pinch at a time until it reaches your preferred sweetness (start with 1/2 tsp). Stir until dissolved.

Add ice cubes to a serving pitcher or individual glasses. Pour the strained orange juice over ice. Stir gently to chill and slightly dilute. If desired, stir in 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavor.

Garnish each glass with an orange slice on the rim and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.